CSP exam 1

The flashcards below were created by user
esnichols
on FreezingBlue Flashcards.

What
is the definition of social problem

a.

Social condition or pattern of behavior that

people believe warrants public concern and collective action to bring about

change.

1.
What are the two elements in the definition of a Social Problem?

a.

Objective reality – existence of social

condition

b.

Subjective perception – belief the condition is

harmful to society.

1.
What are norms?

a.

Behavior guidelines, socially defined rules of

behavior

1.
Define and differentiate the two subtypes of
norms.

a.

Folkways – manors and customs, minor norms

b.

Mores - Strongly held norms that have moral

connotations

1.
What is social structure?

a.

The way society is organized

Status

position

within a social group

Role

set

of rights, obligations, and expectations associated with a status

ascribed
status

what

you are born into

achieved
status

what

you have acquired by choice

Define
social institutions

An

established and enduring pattern of social relationships

Name
the five major social institutions in our society

a.

Family

b.

Religion

c.

Politics

d.

Economics

e.

Education

1.
What is social marginality?

State

of being placed outside the main stream in social settings

How
does social marginality help us better understand social problems

Allows

us to look in from the outside to see how society is set up

Compare
and contrast the macro level and micro level of sociological
analyses

a.

Macro – focuses on social processes within or

between social institutions

b.

Micro – focuses on social behavior &

interactions among individuals

1.
Briefly describe how the
structural-functional perspective explains social problems.

a.

Society is a system of interconnected parts that

work together to maintain the stability of the whole.

manifest
function

intended

positive outcome

latent
function

unintended

positive outcome

dysfunction.

negative

side effect

Name
the two explanations of social problems provided by the structural-
functionalists

a.

Social pathology – malfunctions of institutions

b.

Social disorganization – rapid social change

1.
How can social problems be solved according to
the structural-functionalists?

a.

Repair weak institutions

b.

Restore shared values and norms

1.
Briefly describe how the conflict perspective
explains social problems.

a.

Society is comprised of different groups and

interests that compete for power and scarce resources.

Economic
determinism

structure

of economy shapes all other aspects of society.

Those who own the power of production over lap those who own money,

power, and prestige.

Class
Conflict

Ruling

class posess the means of production.

Workers must sell labor to make a living.

Alienation

a

feeling of powerlessness & meaninglessness.

How
is the view of Dahrendorf different from Marxism?

a.

Because of different groups with opposing values

and interests.

How
can social problems be solved according to the conflict theorists?

Reduce

inequalities & competition at the macro level in society

What
is Thomas’ theorem?

If

situations are defined as real, they are real in their consequences

Briefly
describe the Symbolic Interactionists’ explanation on social problems by using
the concepts such as labeling and self-fulfilling prophecy.

a.

Labels are created and reacted to by society as

such.

b.

Self-fulfilling prophecy – the prophecy by which

belief / prediction results in behavior that makes the original conception come

true.

1.
How can social problems be solved according to
the symbolic interactionists?

a.

Through negotiations and change of definitions.

absolute
poverty

lacking

the means to secure the most basic necessities of life.

relative
poverty

having

deficiencies in resources compared with other members of society.

1.
How is income different from
wealth?

Income

is earnings where wealth is total assets minus debts

1.
Briefly describe how the Davis-Moore Thesis
explains social stratification.

a.

Meritocracy – stratification based on personal

merit.

b.

Functions as a reward system for vital social

roles

i.

Filled by the ablest

ii.

Promotion of equal opportunities

1.
Name the age group that has the highest rate of
poverty in the U.S.

a.

Children – K-18

What proportion does this age group represent in the U.S.
poverty population?

.

1/3 of the population

Describe
what “feminization of poverty” means, then briefly explain the mechanism
through which this phenomenon occurs in society.

a. 2/3 of adult poor population is female

b. They

are young, less educated, and bearing children.

What
is poverty rate?

percentage

of population below the government’s poverty line, currently 12% (12.5%)

Describe how the U.S. poverty line is currently
calculated.

established

by SS admin in 1965, assumes average family spends 1/3 total income on food.

What
is the current federal minimum wage?

$7.25

Define
working poor.

.

Those who spend more than 27 weeks a year in the labor force and whose income

falls below poverty line.

Why
does intergenerational poverty occur?

more

likely to be in poverty if you were raised in poverty

Compare
and contrast 1) cultural explanation and 2) structural explanation
of a cycle of poverty.

a. cultural – transmission of cultural traits which produce

poverty

b.

deteriorating neighborhoods abandoned by legitimate businesses

means
tested

eligibility

based on income

age
tested

benefits at a certain age by having paid into the program.

Identify
the year of welfare reform.

1996

Name
the program that replaced the previous program for families in poverty (i.e.,
Aid to Families with Dependent Children) and identify the two major reforms of
the new program as discussed in the lecture.

a. Temporary assistance to needy families.

i.

requirements for evidence of efforts to leave welfare

ii.

Time limit

Identify
the major problem that the U.S. public housing assistance has been
facing?

social

disorder and crime.

What
is the major obstacle to employment among U.S. single parents?

a.

cost of child care.

race

Race

is based on physical characteristics

ethnicity.

ethnicity

is based on cultural characteristics.

Classification
of people has significant consequences on our perception. Name two
consequences that lead us to make inaccurate judgment on people

a.

overgeneralization – all members

b. illusion

of out-group homogeneity

stereotypes

set

of characteristics attributed to all members of a social category

prejudice

attitude

toward or strong disliking for members of a certain group

ethnocentrism

judging

other groups with reference to one’s own group

Define minority group.

a.

category of people who have unequal access to resources in society and who tend

to be the target of prejudice and discrimination.

What
does U.S. Census classification tell us about the state of U.S. diversity?

.

It reflects public awareness of diversity.

assimilation

members

of a subordinate group become absorbed into the dominant culture

Amalgamation

cultural attributes of diverse groups are blended together

to form a new society incorporating the unique contributions of each other.

pluralism

a

state in which groups maintain their distinctness but respect each other and

have equal access to social resources.

Primary
assimilation

in

personal / intimate relationships

Secondary
assimilation

in public areas and social institutions.

60.
Define racism.

a.

Linking the biological conditions with alleged

socio-cultural capabilities and behavior to assert the superiority of one race.

aversive
racism

subtle

and unintentional

modern
racism

because

laws and policies prohibit discrimination any social disadvantages of

minorities must be their own fault.

individual
discrimination

based

on individual prejudices

institutional
discrimination

a.

normal operations and procedures of social

institutions result in unequal treatment of minorities

overt
discrimination

based

on a persons own prejudices

adaptive
discrimination.

based

on prejudices of others (restaurant owner example)

60.
What are the three factors discussed in class
that contribute to the lower levels of education achieved by racial/ethnic
minorities compared to non-Hispanic whites?

a.

Employment – lower incomes on average

b.

Education – residential segregation – inadequate

funding in economy for disadvantaged areas

c.

Segregation in school system increasing since

1990s

66.
Define segregation.

a.

Spatial and social separation of categories of

people by social characteristics

de
jure segregation

by law

or authority

de
facto segregation

a.

by custom or practice

66.
What are the two factors that contribute to
persistent housing segregation in the U.S.?

a.

Redlining

b.

Geographic steering

Redlining

loans

denied for the purchase of housing in minority neighborhoods

Geographic
steering

realtors

showing homes only in minority neighborhoods

66.
What is affirmative action?

a.

Policies and practices in the work place and

educational institutions to promote equal opportunity as well as diversity

66.
Briefly describe the history of U.S. affirmative
action between 1974 and 2003.

Moving

away from traditional AA and claiming reverse discrimination

66.
Briefly describe the current U.S. public
attitudes toward affirmative action.

a.

Little more than 50% support AA

66.
Which minority group constitutes the largest
beneficiary of affirmative action policies?